🙂A single person spends $1,639 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,083 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,583 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,221 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,528 per month in Karlskrona vs $4,359 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂Karlskrona is about 21% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Karlskrona and Malmo sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 20%, Malmo by 52%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.36SEK 132
$15.40SEK 152
-13.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3SEK 663
$76.7SEK 756
-12.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.46SEK 93.2
$12.22SEK 120
-22.59%
Cappuccino
$4.09SEK 40.27
$5.10SEK 50.3
-19.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SEK 13.29
$3.37SEK 33.24
-59.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28SEK 22.49
$2.68SEK 26.37
-14.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.32SEK 72.2
$8.97SEK 88.4
-18.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14SEK 50.7
$8.97SEK 88.4
-42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48SEK 14.55
$1.75SEK 17.24
-15.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71SEK 26.75
$3.03SEK 29.88
-10.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74SEK 36.84
$3.58SEK 35.27
4.47%
Eggs
$4.61SEK 45.44
$4.23SEK 41.71
8.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87SEK 107
$13.07SEK 129
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.28SEK 131
$12.22SEK 120
8.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.32SEK 171
$22.01SEK 217
-21.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.99
$3.05SEK 30.04
3.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37SEK 23.33
$2.62SEK 25.85
-9.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95SEK 29.10
$3.18SEK 31.30
-7.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55SEK 44.87
$4.44SEK 43.75
2.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.89
$1.74SEK 17.14
-13.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.91
$1.52SEK 14.99
-0.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15SEK 21.19
$2.48SEK 24.46
-13.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.51
$1.31SEK 12.89
12.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15SEK 70.5
$7.79SEK 76.7
-8.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.79SEK 126
$11.80SEK 116
8.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.43
$2.00SEK 19.72
-1.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76SEK 17.30
$2.32SEK 22.85
-24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03SEK 29.91
$3.20SEK 31.49
-5.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.5SEK 725
$64.5SEK 636
13.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.58SEK 134
$6.42SEK 63.3
111.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.00SEK 19.76
$2.44SEK 24.00
-18.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.2SEK 810
$51.8SEK 510
58.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71SEK 16.84
$1.76SEK 17.33
-2.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 327.0K
$33.2KSEK 327.4K
-0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KSEK 329.3K
$33.7KSEK 332.3K
-0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6SEK 518
$140SEK 1,384
-62.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.34SEK 279
$26.87SEK 265
5.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.87SEK 373
$37.50SEK 370
0.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28SEK 417
$43.40SEK 428
-2.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.72SEK 244
$29.75SEK 293
-16.91%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62SEK 164
$17.63SEK 174
-5.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164SEK 1,618
$172SEK 1,695
-4.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$3,416SEK 33.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9SEK 975
$103SEK 1,012
-3.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.68SEK 204
$46.61SEK 459
-55.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.8SEK 806
$114SEK 1,120
-28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178SEK 1,756
$156SEK 1,542
13.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$686SEK 6,762
$1,044SEK 10.3K
-34.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$597SEK 5,879
$816SEK 8,044
-26.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,140SEK 11.2K
$1,750SEK 17.2K
-34.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$963SEK 9,494
$1,377SEK 13.6K
-30.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,944SEK 29.0K
$4,211SEK 41.5K
-30.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,555SEK 25.2K
$3,287SEK 32.4K
-22.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,546SEK 25.1K
$3,113SEK 30.7K
-18.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
3.02
39.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: September 15, 2026
Last update for Malmo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Karlskrona versus $1,044 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 22% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona versus $77.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $383 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Karlskrona vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Karlskrona and $3,125 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona and $77.0 in Malmo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona and in Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Karlskrona and $2,083 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Malmo at $2,083. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared